Eaton — a global power management leader with over 100 years in business, 96,000 employees, and operations in 175+ countries — is hiring a Process Engineer – SMT PCBA for their new sustainable manufacturing campus in Dubai, UAE. This is a technically demanding, full-time role requiring 5+ years of PCBA SMT manufacturing engineering experience, with expertise in equipment programming and set-up across ASYS, Panasonic, PARMI, ERSA, and CyberOptics platforms, and strong knowledge of NPI, PFMEA, IPC-A610 Class 3, Lean Manufacturing, and AOI/Pick-and-Place processes. Hybrid working model available.
About Eaton — 40 Years in the Middle East, Now Building Dubai’s Future
Global Presence: 96,000+ employees · 175+ countries · 100+ years of power management leadership
Dubai Campus: New sustainable campus bringing commercial, manufacturing, and support under one roof
Mission: Energy-efficient power management — electrical, hydraulic, and mechanical power solutions
Culture: Inclusion & Diversity · Sustainability · Hybrid working · Eaton University learning platform
Career: Annual mentoring, global internal mobility, structured development plans and open feedback culture
SMT Equipment Expertise — Required & Preferred
DMC Lasering: Programming and set-up of Direct Mark Code laser equipment
Solder Paste Printing: Stencil design, printer set-up, and solder paste process control
3D SPI: Solder Paste 3D Inspection system programming, validation, and monitoring
Pick & Place: P&P machine programming (ideally Panasonic), nozzle management, and component placement
Reflow Oven & 3D AOI: Reflow profile design, ERSA/CyberOptics/PARMI AOI programming and optimisation
Position Overview
The Process Engineer – SMT PCBA at Eaton Dubai is a technically expert, cross-functional engineering role at the heart of Eaton’s PCBA manufacturing operations in the UAE. You will set up, validate, maintain, and continuously improve all SMT equipment and related manufacturing processes — using innovative engineering solutions to address complex production challenges, secure Eaton’s quality standards, and drive constant improvement in customer satisfaction across every PCBA manufactured on the line.
This role spans the full SMT manufacturing lifecycle — from designing SMT processes through each manufacturing step and supporting R&D during PCB design phases through DFM reviews, to leading NPI introductions, managing transferred PCBA from other Eaton plants or EMS partners, and driving Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives across the production floor. You will be the SMT process expert that production, quality, maintenance, R&D, and programme management teams all turn to when they need authoritative technical guidance. If you have the SMT equipment programming depth, the IPC-A610 knowledge, and the Lean mindset to excel in this environment, Eaton Dubai has built the role for you.
Why This Role Matters: PCBA quality is not just an engineering metric — in power management products that protect electrical infrastructure across 175 countries, the solder joint quality, component placement accuracy, and manufacturing process stability that this role is responsible for are directly linked to the safety and reliability of products that millions of customers depend on. As the SMT Process Engineer at Eaton Dubai, your process definitions, PFMEA contributions, AOI thresholds, and reflow profiles are engineering decisions that have real consequences — and that is precisely what makes this role professionally rewarding for an engineer who takes that responsibility seriously.
Key Responsibilities
SMT Process Definition, Set-Up & Equipment Programming
- Program and set up all SMT equipment across the full production line — including DMC lasering, solder paste printing, 3D SPI, Pick-and-Place, reflow ovens, and 3D AOI — maintaining consistent, validated equipment configurations across all production lines and PCBA SKUs
- Design SMT processes through each manufacturing step — defining the complete process sequence, parameter windows, equipment settings, and quality checkpoints for every PCBA SKU in production, ensuring each process is validated, documented, and reproducible
- Manage consistency of equipment programming databases and standards across production lines and PCBA SKUs — maintaining a single, controlled source of truth for all equipment programs that prevents configuration drift and ensures production quality consistency
- Manage tool procurement for SMT purposes — including stencils, printing support fixtures, Pick-and-Place nozzles, and associated tooling — ensuring all tooling is specified, procured, validated, and maintained to support production requirements
NPI, Technology Transfer & ProLaunch Support
- Be proactive in PCBA SMT prototype manufacturing for NPI and transferred PCBA projects — applying technical engineering expertise and statistical analysis tools to validate new processes, identify manufacturability risks early, and ensure new products transition smoothly into stable production
- Support the Industrialization Programme Manager in ProLaunch Manufacturing deliverables — including Process Flow Charts, PFMEA, PPAP, and other required quality and manufacturing readiness documentation for new and transferred PCBA introductions
- Influence PCB/PCBA design through DFM reviews — working with R&D through structured engineering reviews to optimise manufacturability, improve assembly yield, and reduce the risk of field reliability issues before designs are released to manufacturing
- Ensure effective and timely implementation of all PCBA SMT ECO/MCO (Engineering/Manufacturing Change Orders) — managing the complete process change workflow from receipt through validation, documentation update, and production line implementation
Quality, Defect Reduction & Continuous Improvement
- Optimise SMT processes and minimise both false and true defect rates — applying structured root cause analysis and statistical process control to systematically identify and eliminate the sources of manufacturing defects across solder paste printing, component placement, and reflow
- Act as SMT process expert for quality crisis root cause analysis and action plan definition — leading the technical investigation of significant quality events with the rigour, speed, and permanent corrective action methodology that Eaton’s quality standards require
- Support Production Continuous Improvement initiatives including SMED, Kaizen events, RIE (Rapid Improvement Events), and VSM (Value Stream Mapping) — contributing SMT process expertise to line-wide improvement programmes that increase productivity and reduce waste
- Track and improve SMT line cycle times for each PCBA SKU — identifying cycle time bottlenecks, proposing and implementing equipment and process improvements, and updating the SMT RCCP (Rough Cut Capacity Plan) with the Production Manager to support accurate capacity planning
Industry 4.0, Training & Technical Leadership
- Support Industry 4.0 initiatives on SMT equipment — contributing to digitalization and connectivity projects using Kepware, Ignition, and MES platforms to enable real-time production performance monitoring (RTPPM), end-to-end traceability, and statistical process control (SPC) on the SMT line
- Develop, deliver, and maintain operator and maintenance work instructions and training plans for all SMT equipment and PCBA-specific processes — ensuring all production and maintenance personnel have clear, current, and accessible process documentation and the training needed to execute it correctly
- Act as technical interlocutor for other Eaton plants and EMS partners — sharing SMT process knowledge, supporting technology transfers, and contributing to Eaton’s global SMT technical community as the recognised SMT process authority for the Dubai campus
- Lead SMT process technical benchmarking with equipment suppliers and attend industry exhibitions — building the SMT technology roadmap for the Dubai campus based on a clear understanding of where SMT manufacturing is heading and what capability investments will deliver the best return
Qualifications & Required Skills
Educational Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Electronics Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or Industrial Engineering — from a reputed university; candidates with a relevant engineering degree and strong SMT manufacturing experience will be given priority consideration
- IPC-A610 Class 3 certification is a strong advantage and significantly strengthens an application — demonstrating validated knowledge of the acceptability standards for electronic assemblies at the highest quality class
Experience Requirements
- 5+ years of experience in PCBA SMT manufacturing engineering — with demonstrable, hands-on expertise in SMT equipment programming and set-up across the full line (paste printing, SPI, Pick-and-Place, reflow, AOI) rather than experience limited to one or two processes
- NPI and VAVE PCBA introduction in SMT processes for 10+ years preferred — with a track record of successfully introducing new products and transferring existing PCBAs into SMT production with minimal yield issues and on-time programme delivery
- Demonstrated experience in Lean Manufacturing or continuous improvement methodologies — actively contributing to SMED, Kaizen, or RIE events with measurable productivity or quality improvement outcomes
Technical Skills
- Expert-level knowledge of SMT manufacturing processes and equipment — including programming of DMC Lasering, Solder Paste Printing, 3D SPI, Pick-and-Place, Reflow Ovens, and AOI systems, ideally across ASYS, Panasonic, PARMI, ERSA, and CyberOptics platforms
- Strong knowledge of PCB and SMT component technology — including component packaging standards, PCB laminate materials, pad geometry requirements, and the relationships between PCB design choices and SMT manufacturability outcomes
- Knowledge of ESD safety procedures, quality control practices, and X-ray analysis — with the safety orientation and quality discipline that Eaton’s MESH (Management Environmental Safety Health) framework and operational standards require
Why SMT Process Engineer Roles at Eaton Dubai Are Exceptional in 2026
Eaton’s new sustainable manufacturing campus in Dubai marks a significant investment in the UAE’s industrial and power management capabilities — and the Process Engineer – SMT PCBA is one of the most technically central roles in making that campus a world-class manufacturing operation. With 40 years of history in the Middle East, 96,000 global colleagues, and products that protect and manage electrical power across 175 countries, Eaton offers an SMT engineer the rare combination of global technical resources, a new-campus environment, and the mission-level significance of contributing to products that genuinely matter.
For an SMT Process Engineer with the IPC-A610 depth, NPI track record, equipment programming breadth, and Lean Manufacturing mindset this role demands, Eaton Dubai in 2026 offers a genuinely compelling career destination: structured development, annual mentoring, global internal mobility, hybrid working, and the professional prestige of being part of one of the world’s most respected power management manufacturers — in one of the world’s most dynamic and rewarding cities to build a career.
Who Should Apply?
- Senior SMT Process Engineers: With 5+ years of hands-on PCBA SMT manufacturing engineering experience — able to program and set up the full SMT line independently, including Panasonic P&P, PARMI SPI/AOI, and reflow ovens
- NPI SMT Engineers: With a strong track record of introducing new PCBA designs into SMT production — including DFM reviews, PFMEA contribution, PPAP delivery, and prototype-to-production yield improvement
- IPC-A610 Class 3 Certified Engineers: With demonstrable application of Class 3 workmanship standards in a demanding electronics manufacturing environment — ideally combined with XRay analysis experience
- Lean Manufacturing Electronics Engineers: With active experience in SMED, Kaizen, RIE, and VSM in a PCB assembly manufacturing context — able to contribute meaningfully to Eaton’s continuous improvement culture from day one
- Dubai-Based or Relocating SMT Engineers: Ready to join a globally respected power management company building a new sustainable manufacturing campus in Dubai — with hybrid working, structured career development, global internal mobility, and Eaton University learning opportunities
Recently Opening Job👇
